THE ANNUAL PARITY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND TRANSGENDER PLAYWRIGHTS

Beyond our annual productions, in concert with our mission to see more women and transgender artists employed in the theatre, we award twocommissions per year to women and transgender playwrights who have demonstrated a singular talent for storytelling. The selected playwrights will receive $2,500each. One out of every $10 we make from our Parity Store goes to them in support of their commissioned work – we call that our 10% Promise. ​​

Parity Productions reads submissions blind and makes decisions based on who we believe to be the most promising playwrights with work that is in harmony with our artistic mission. Selected playwrights will receive regular feedback on their commissioned work within 30 days of their submission of a first and second draft. They will also receive one “closed door” reading (cast, Parity Productions Artistic Director, and literary department) and at least one public reading and/or developmental production of the commissioned work. An option for Parity Productions to produce the work is included in The Commission agreement.

Can I apply for The Commission?All scripts submitted to us by women and transgender playwrights during our submission period and that fit the requirements outlined below will also be considered for The Commission, but there is no direct application for it. We award The Parity Commission to women and transgender playwrights that we have become familiar with through their submissions and subsequent meetings and interactions with us or other performances of their work. Script submissions reopened on December 1, 2017 and will close at the end of 5 weeks (January 5, 2018) or when we reach 500 submissions.

Any work that is submitted for The Commission must be new and previously unproduced in a professional production capacity (both Equity and non-Equity). Submitted plays that have been previously produced will be disqualified automatically. However, works that have been read or workshopped may be submitted.